Conspiratorial Thinking, A.I., and Consumer Behavior: A Discussion For Future Research
Abstract
Conspiracy theories provide a succinct explanation for a series of events that challenge the beliefs and values of a particular group. Conspiratorial thinking is often used as a coping strategy to combat fear and uncertainty by filling in the gaps of knowledge. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is creating a major point of contention in conspiratorial groups due to its dynamic, multifaceted functions, the implications of which are unknown. Relatedly, recent literature has demonstrated that conspiratorial thinking within conservative groups predicts lower levels of trust regarding AI compared to liberal counterparts. While it has been documented that both sides of the political ideology spectrum (liberal and conservative) have a predisposition for conspiratorial thinking, this presentation will be focusing on conservatism as it is specifically associated with higher levels of perceived risk and threat management relative to uncertainty, as well as lower levels of trust in science and scientists. By using a consumer behavior approach, we will pull from multiple psychological theories to investigate conspiratorial beliefs regarding A.I. and their latent risk to public safety. Avoidance and distrust of burgeoning A.I. systems could take conspiratorial thinking from benign personal conjectures to public safety issues which has been the case in the recent past with conspiracies surrounding Covid-19 vaccinations, QAnon, and conspiracies that would eventually lead to the January 6th Insurrection. The goal of this presentation is to bring to light the potential negative repercussions of conspiratorial thinking toward A.I. if it remains unresearched.
Keywords
conspiracy theories, conspiratorial thinking, Artificial Intelligence, conservative, conservatism, extremism, consumer behavior
Conspiratorial Thinking, A.I., and Consumer Behavior: A Discussion For Future Research
CASB 117
Conspiracy theories provide a succinct explanation for a series of events that challenge the beliefs and values of a particular group. Conspiratorial thinking is often used as a coping strategy to combat fear and uncertainty by filling in the gaps of knowledge. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is creating a major point of contention in conspiratorial groups due to its dynamic, multifaceted functions, the implications of which are unknown. Relatedly, recent literature has demonstrated that conspiratorial thinking within conservative groups predicts lower levels of trust regarding AI compared to liberal counterparts. While it has been documented that both sides of the political ideology spectrum (liberal and conservative) have a predisposition for conspiratorial thinking, this presentation will be focusing on conservatism as it is specifically associated with higher levels of perceived risk and threat management relative to uncertainty, as well as lower levels of trust in science and scientists. By using a consumer behavior approach, we will pull from multiple psychological theories to investigate conspiratorial beliefs regarding A.I. and their latent risk to public safety. Avoidance and distrust of burgeoning A.I. systems could take conspiratorial thinking from benign personal conjectures to public safety issues which has been the case in the recent past with conspiracies surrounding Covid-19 vaccinations, QAnon, and conspiracies that would eventually lead to the January 6th Insurrection. The goal of this presentation is to bring to light the potential negative repercussions of conspiratorial thinking toward A.I. if it remains unresearched.